Garkida Attack: Buhari Vows Aggressive Campaign To Rout Terrorists

 From Jane Okafor, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday  condemned Boko Haram attack on Garkida, Adamawa State and said Nigerians should expect aggressive campaign to rout terrorists in the country.

Buhari also extended his sympathy to families of victims of the latest attack.

Boko Haram had on Friday stormed Garkida, in northern Adamawa State’s Gombi Local Government Area on Friday evening and destroyed valuables, including houses and place of worship.

The Nigerian military which confirmed the attack, said a soldier died while another was wounded during the  gun battle with  the Boko Haram militants.

Although,  the 23 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army with its headquarters located  in Yola, said it had responded to interrupt advances of the insurgents, killed  some of them and lost a soldier to them.

“Gallant troops of 232 Battalion of 23 Armoured Brigade under Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed in Garkida, Gombi LGA of Adamawa State, had thwarted a planned criminal attack on the peaceful town on 21 February 2020 by some criminal Boko Haram Terrorists,” the military formation said in a statement.

The Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Sani Gambo Mohammed visited the troops in Garkida on Saturday and toured the locations of the attack for an on the spot assessment and congratulated the troops for their fighting spirit.

Dani warned the troops to be vigilant as the criminal elements might plan a reprisal attack due to the casualties inflicted on them. 

In the statement signed by Major Haruna Mohammed Sani, Assistant Director Army Public Relations of the 23 Armoured Brigade, “The terrorists besieged the town in about 7 Gun Trucks and a number of motorcycles, setting some buildings ablaze and causing unrest within the community.

He stated: “Instinctively, the gallant troops mobilized and intercepted the criminals’ advance and engaged the marauding criminals unleashing high volume of fire, leading to the elimination of several of the criminals while others withdrew in disarray, many of them with gunshot wounds as evident in the trails of blood along their withdrawal route.

“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while another soldier was wounded in action. The wounded in action soldier has since been evacuated to a military medical facility and is positively responding to treatment.”

 But reacting on Sunday to the attack, the President assured that no part of Nigeria would be abandoned to their fate, urging Nigerians to expect an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

Buhari said: “These attacks on soft targets by terrorists are obvious signs of frustration because my administration has significantly weakened Boko Haram’s military capability to invade and hold Nigerian territory unchallenged.

“Our gallant forces deserve our appreciation for repelling the attackers but they must go beyond this point. They have our full support to go after the terrorists and have them pay a huge price. I want to assure the country that terrorists will continue to face the combined power of our military until they give up their mistaken ways.

“These occasional and episodic attacks on poor civilians by terrorists are mere propaganda efforts to portray them as strong in order to fool the public into believing that they haven't been militarily weakened our gallant troops.’’

The President said since the coming of  his administration Boko Haram's ability to invade and occupy Nigerian territories, let alone be able to hoist their flags had been frustrated.

He also said that in the coming weeks Nigerians would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

“Security will continue to be well funded despite the competing needs of social services. I appeal to Nigerians to continue to support our troops in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country,’’ the President further added in a release by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant(Media and Publicity).